title: Views of GPs and practice nurses on support needed to respond to pandemic influenza: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Five years ago Australia, and the world, placed itself on heightened alert for pandemic influenza, based on concerns about the potential spread of the avian influenza virus. This prompted a flurry of preparation activity involving general practice, with information from various sources; government, colleges and divisions of general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess how general practitioners and practice nurses perceive this information, practice nurses and general practitioners were interviewed as part of a larger project exploring the role of the Australian general practice sector in an influenza pandemic. Results were validated by two focus groups and scenario sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants perceived that non-government organisations rarely gave useful information during a pandemic outbreak. Local divisions were perceived as having a practical and useful role, providing hands-on support to practices during a pandemic outbreak. Our participants did not perceive any coordination in the delivery of information sent by all the organisations involved in a pandemic response and therefore rejected our second hypothesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More planning needs to go into the coordinated response of the general practice sector to a pandemic, and such a response should include the support of local Divisions, both as a conduit for information and to assist practices to develop response plans.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne East GP Network, Suite 13, Level 1, 317-321 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading, VIC 3131, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shearer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kljakovic
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Glasgow
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dugdale
authors.forename: Mahomed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology